About WyoPoets
WyoPoets is an organization of persons who write poetry for publication and/or as a hobby. Although most of our members are in Wyoming, we have several members located in neighboring states and other areas of the country. Our mission is to provide a base for mutual help and inspiration by encouraging interest in poetry throughout the state of Wyoming. This can be achieved by writing, publishing, studying, and sharing poetry in its many forms. WyoPoets is a 501(c)(3) organization as well as the Wyoming branch of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). See the full list of our member benefits below.
How to Join
Membership dues in WyoPoets is $20.00 per year. Fiscal year is July 1 through June 30. Send check, payable to WyoPoets, for $20.00, and mail to: Karen Call, WyoPoets Treasurer, 10350 E. 26th Avenue, Aurora CO 80010, or use the online form below. If joining or renewing by mail, you may include a donation to our scholarship funds, either for the general fund or for our underrepresented poets funds. You may also donate and learn more on our Scholarships page.
Wyoming K-12, community college, and university students receive a 50% discount on member dues. Please include proof of student status with your check or money order or send to [email protected] if you are joining online.
If you would prefer to use Zelle, it saves our organization processing fees and helps us put your membership dues towards more of our services and programs. Simpy download the app, and transfer funds ($20 for membership dues) to [email protected] with the memo "Membership Dues"
Wyoming K-12, community college, and university students receive a 50% discount on member dues. Please include proof of student status with your check or money order or send to [email protected] if you are joining online.
If you would prefer to use Zelle, it saves our organization processing fees and helps us put your membership dues towards more of our services and programs. Simpy download the app, and transfer funds ($20 for membership dues) to [email protected] with the memo "Membership Dues"
Member Benefits
Student Benefits
In addition to the above list, Wyoming K-12, community college, and university students receive a 50% discount on member dues and workshop registration with proof of status. Students will receive the newsletter by email and not in print.
- WyoPoets’ Newsletter: Members receive the newsletter four times a year. This is a publication where members can share their publication news, have their poems published, and keep up with all the things going on in the organization.
- NFSPS Membership: All WyoPoets automatically become members of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, making WyoPoets’ members eligible for NFSPS Members-Only contests.
- Strophes Newsletter: Members have access to the Strophes Newsletter that comes out four times a year and published by NFSPS.
- Spring Workshop: WyoPoets holds a yearly workshop in the Spring during National Poetry Month (April).
- Eugene V. Shea Contest: This is an annual contest allowing any subject and any form.
- Members-Only Contest: WyoPoets has a biennial poetry contest allowing any subject and any form for members only.
- Chapbook Contest: WyoPoets has a biennial members-only chapbook contest, years opposite the Members-Only Contest, where winners have their selected poems published in the WyoPoets’ Chapbook.
- Pop-up Contests: WyoPoets occasionally has special contests pop up.
- Zoom Poetry Open Mic: WyoPoets currently has a monthly Poetry Night where members can read their poems or come listen to poetry. WyoPoets’ Zoom account is also available for members to hold their own poetry-related meetings or events.
- American Life in Poetry column: An emailed copy of the column started in 2005 by Ted Kooser and taken over by Kwame Dawes as editor in January 2021. Each week, Kwame Dawes selects a poem by a contemporary American poet and provides a brief introduction.
- Writing Groups: Each newsletter contains a list of writing groups throughout the state of Wyoming. Members can find contact information for a writing group or list their own writing group.
- Member Links: Members can have their writing websites and social media links added to the Links tab of WyoPoets’ website.
- Social Media: WyoPoets will share publication news of its members on Twitter and Facebook.
- Member Contact: Members have access to contact information of other members so you can stay in touch.
- Community: Possibly the most important of all is becoming part of the poetic community.
Student Benefits
In addition to the above list, Wyoming K-12, community college, and university students receive a 50% discount on member dues and workshop registration with proof of status. Students will receive the newsletter by email and not in print.